Bowling ball grip gauge



July 9, 1940. R. F. HINKLEY. SR

BOWLING BALL GRIP GAUGE Filed June 26, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.EoerZfHm/dg Jr:

July 9, 1940. R. F. HINKLEY, SR

BOWLING BALL GRIP GAUGE Filed June 26, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

Patented July 9, 1940 UNITED- STATES PATENT orrlce- BOWLING BALL GRIPGAUGE Robert F. Hinkley, Sn, Pasadena, Calif. Application June 26, 1939,Serial No. 281,124

8 Claims. (01. 33-174) This invention relates to bowling ball gauges bywhich a perspective purchaser of a bowling ball may determine withaccuracy the exact size and relative positions of the thumb and fingerholes which are best suited for his particular hand, thereby enablingthe selected sizes and spacings of the holes to be duplicated in theball which he purchases. The purchaser thereby is enabled to buy a ballindividually fitted to his hand instead of acquiring one in which theholes are of standard dimensions and conventionally arranged, and inmost instances are totally unsuited to the individual.

This invention constitutes an improvement upon the' disclosure of mypending application Serial No. 249,813, filed January '7, 1939. In myprior application, the thumb hole block was disclosed as being in fixedposition, while the finger hole blocks were adjustable relatively to thethumb block. The thumb blocir was located on a median line extendingbetween the finger blocks and parallel with their direction ofadjustment. This is the conventional position of the thumb hole withrespect to the finger holes, and most bowling balls in use today havethis conventional arrangement of thumb and finger holes. Theoretically,however, this arrangement is proper for only those limited number ofbowlers who insert the first and second fingers in the 80 finger holes.The large majority of bowlers use the second and third fingers, andsince the thumb is not located on a median line between the second andthird fingers, the conventional hole arrangement is unnatural andimproper.

My present invention, therefore, contemplates the provision of a gaugewhich will permit a proper and natural arrangement of the thumb andfinger holes for each individual bowler, and with this end in view, itprovides not only for an 40 adjustment of the finger blocks toward andfrom the thumb block, but also a transverse adjustment of the thumbblock relatively to the finger blocks so that the thumb hole may bepositioned laterally with respect to the median line between the fingerholes. This feature not only permits the thumb hole to be positioned ona line with one of the finger holes as' it should be instead of on amedian line between them, but also enables it to be positioned on eitherside of the median line to suit the requirements of both right handedand left handed bowlers.

Another feature of my invention resides in the provision of a body inwhich the adjustable thumb and finger blocks are mounted which willcorrespond in size, shape and weight with a standard bowling ball sothat when the individual being measured holds the gauge inhis hand andswings it, he will experience a sensation of swinging a standard bowlingball, thereby enabling him to sense the feel of the grip and to obtain aball perfectly fitted to his hand both as to the size of. the thumb andeach finger hole and as to the proper relative positions of the threeholes.

Another purpose of my invention is to provide a bowling ball grip gaugein which the thumb and finger blocks are readily and easily detachableso that they may be quickly replaced with' the selected blocks havingthe desired size holes for each individual customer.

A further object is the provision of means for quickly and securelylocking the finger and thumb hole blocks in adjusted position to enablethe accurate measurement of the spacing.

Another feature is the provision of a gauge or measuring device by whichthe spacing of the holes of each of the finger blocks from the hole ofthe thumb block may be readily ascertained.

Other objects and many of the inherent advantagesof this inventionshould be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood byreference to the following description when considered in connectionwith'the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation ofa grip gauge embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation looking toward the left at Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the tightening wrench;

Fig, 7 is a perspective view of one of the finger blocks; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the thumb blocks.

Referring to the drawings more in detail, reference character llindicates generally the body of my novel gauge which comprises twosemispherical sections l2 and i3, respectively, preferably molded from asuitable thermo-plastic or metallic composition so that when assembledin conjunction with the thumb block, the finger blocks, and the fingerblock holders, the assembly will closely approximate the weight of astandard bowling ball. The two hemispherical sections are securedtogether by stud bolts M, the socketed heads 15 of which are countersunkin the body in holes or sockets I8, as shown in Fig. 2.

Theibody sections are provided with opposed recesses l1 and i8 adaptedwhen assembled to provide a socket having a convex bottom l9 concentricwith the perimeter of the body. This socket is adapted to receive athumb,block 2| having a curved bottom conforming to the curvature of thesocket bottom 19 and provided with a thumb hole 22. The size of thethumb hole is indicated on the outer surface of the block and in thepresent instance is 1:}, inches in diameter. The block is also providedon one face with a plurality of, in the present instance, three lockingsockets 23 adapted to receive the inner end of a locking pin 24 normallyurged into locking position by a coil spring 25 and adapted to beretracted to release the block for replacement by a pull knob 26. Theplurality of locking sockets 23 enable the block to be locked in any oneof three adjusted positions. Obviously, the number of adjusted positionsobtainable may be increased by increasing the number of sockets 23 andin whatever position of adjustment the thumb block is placed, itsv outersurface will always lie substantially flush with the outer sur-' face ofthe body.

The body section I3 is also provided with a sector shaped recess 21extending inwardly be-- yond the center of the body, and section I! islikewise provided with a similar recess 28. These recesses are for theaccommodation of finger block holders 29 and 3|, respectively, which areshaped as indicated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, and provide open ended socketsfor the reception of correspondingly shaped finger blocks 32 and 33provided with finger holes 34 and 35, respectively. The finger holes maybe of any desired selected size, the one illustrated at the left inFig.2

being inch in diameter, and the one at the right being inch in diameter.

The finger block holders 29 and 3| are provided axially of the body withinternally threaded sleeves 36 and 31, respectively (Fig. 4) into whichare threaded through the body the pivot and clamping bolts 38 and 39,respectively, having socketed heads II and 42 countersunk in the bodyand adapted to be operated by the correspondingly shaped wrench portion43 (Fig. 6) of a wrench having a knurled knob or handle 44. This wrenchalso fits the heads 15 of the clamping bolts ll.

Each of the finger blocks is provided with a locking socket 45 adaptedto receive a locking pin 46 projecting through a hole in the wall of theblock holder and yieldingly urged into looking position by a leaf spring41 and readily releasable upon actuation of the pull knob 48. The blockholders are locked in adjusted position by tightening up the pivot andlock bolts I8 and 39 upon which the holders are pivoted and by whichthey are clamped against the side walls of the recesses in which theholders are' located.

In the use of my invention, the prospective purchaser selects from aseries of thumb blocks having thumb holes of graduated sizes that block.the hole of which best fits his thumb. This block is then placed in thethumb block recess and locked by means of the pin 24 in the desiredposition. For a right handed bowler, the block will customarily bepositioned as indicated in Fig. 2 at the left side of the median linebetween the finger holes. Two finger blocks are then selected which bestfit the fingers of the prospect, and these blocks are positioned in theholders. having been loosened, the individual may now inserthis thumband fingers in the respective holes, and the finger block holders beingloosely pivoted will move backward or forward to accommodate the fingerholes to the span of the individual's hands.

When thus positioned, the bolts 38 and 38 are tightened up clamping theholders and finger blocks carried thereby in adjusted position,whereupon the individual may lift the ball, swing it, and otherwisemanipulate it" to ascertain whether the grip is comfortable or .whetherfurther adjustment should be made.;- When a satisfactory and comfortableposition of the finger holes has been attained, the size, location, andspacing of the thumb and finger holes may be duplicated in a bowlingball by simply measuring and recording the size and location of theholes, which record is then sent to the shop where the holes in the ballare bored.

For the purpose of measuring the spacing of the individual finger holesfrom the thumb holes, I have provided a curved rule or gauge member 49,preferably formed of metal having a knob by which it may be handled, thegauge being provided with a head 52 adapted to be positioned in thethumb hole and with lineal measurement indications preferably in incheswhich when the gauge is swung over the respective finger holes willindicate the exact spacing of each of these holes from the thumb hole.For purposes of greater accuracy in measurement, the gauge is slightlyoffset, as indicated at 5!, to enable the edge of the gauge to bedisposed in alignment simultaneously with the center of the thumb holeand the center of a finger hole.

It should be apparent from the foregoing that I have provided a bowlingball grip gauge which corresponds in size, shape and weight with abowling ball, which provides for adjustment of position of both thethumb hole and two finger holes, enables a substantial duplication ofthe conditions existing in bowling and insures accuracy of fit to thehand both in hole size and spacing. My invention provides also foraccurate spacing measurement so as to enable exact duplication in abowling ball of the spacing indicated by the gauge. The gauge,furthermore, is strong and durable, provides facility for ready exchangeof finger and thumb blocks, and afi'ords provision for rigid locking ofthe parts in adjusted position.

The structural details illustrated and described may obviously be variedwithin considerable limits without departing from the spirit of myinvention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A bowling ball grip gauge comprising a body corresponding in weightand dimensions to a bowling ball and provided with a plurality ofrecesses disposed at right angles to each other. a replaceable thumbhole block adjustably mounted in one of said recesses, a plurality offinger block holders adjustably mounted in the other recess, saidholders being adjustable toward and from the thumb hole block and thethumb hole block being adjustable transversely to the direction ofadjustment of said holders, a replaceable finger hole block carried byeach of said holders, means for detachably locking each of said fingerhole blocks in its respective holder, and means for independentlylocking each of said holders in adjusted position.

2. A bowling ball grip gauge comprising a body The pivot and clampingbolts representing a bowling ball, a replaceable thumb hole blockmounted in said body, a plurality o! holders adjustably mounted in saidbody, means for locking each of said holdersv in adjusted position, areplaceable finger hole block disposed in each of said holders, andmeans for detachably locking each of said finger hole blocks in itsrespective holder.

3. A bowling ball grip gauge comprising a spherical body correspondingin size and weight to a bowling ball, said body being provided with anelongated slot having a curved bottomconcentric with the curvature ofsaid body, a replaceable thumb hole block disposed in said recess andadjustable in an arc concentric with the surface of said body, means fordetachably locking said block in adjusted position, a plurality ofholders adjustably mounted in said body for adjustment toward and fromsaid thumb hole block along arcs concentric with the surface of saidbody, a replaceable finger hole block positioned in each of saidholders, means for detachably locking each finger hole block in itsrespective holder, and means for independently locking each of saidholders in adjusted position.

4. A bowling ball grip gauge comprising a spherical body correspondingin dimensions with a bowling ball, said body consisting of a pluralityof semi-spherical sections detachably connected together and providedwith outwardly opening recesses, a plurality of holders mounted in oneof said recesses for adjustment in an arc concentric with said body, afinger hole block detachably mounted in each of said holders, means forlooking said holders in adjusted position and a thumb hole block mountedin another recess for adjustment in an arc concentric with the body butin a direction transverse to the direction of adjustment of said fingerhole blocks, and means for detachably locking said thumb hole block inadjusted position.

5. A bowling ball grip gauge corresponding in size and weight to abowling ball, comprising a body, a finger hole block holder adjustablymounted in said body, a replaceable thumb hole block adjustably mountedin said body, a replace able finger hole block carried by said blockhold-v er, the finger hole block holder being adjustable in a directionperpendicular to the direction of adjustment of said thumb hole block,and means for locking said'finger hole block holder in adjustedposition.

6. A bowling ball grip gauge comprising a body provided with a pluralityof recesses, a replaceable thumb hole block positioned in one of saidrecesses, a plurality of block holders positioned in the other recess,replaceable finger hole blocks positioned in each of said block holders,said holders being individually adjustable toward and from the thumbblock and the thumb block being adjustable transversely to the directionof adjustment of said finger hole block holders, and means for lockingsaid holders and said thumb hole block in adjusted position. v

7. A bowling ball grip gauge. comprising a body representing a bowlingball and provided with an elongated recess and with a second elongatedrecess disposed perpendicular to said first recess, a replaceable thumbhole block adjustably mounted in said first recess, a plurality offinger hole block holders adjustably mounted in said other recess, andmeans for independently locking said thumb hole block and said fingerhole block holders in adjusted position.

8. A bowling ball grip gauge comprising a spherical body representing abowling ball provided with a plurality of elongated recesses, aplurality of finger hole block holders pivotally mounted in one of saidrecesses, areplaceable finger hole block carried by each of saidholders, means for detachably locking each of said blocks in itsrespective holder, means for independently locking each of said holdersin adjusted position, a replaceable thumb hole block mounted in theother of said recesses for adjustment in directions transverse to thedirection of adjustment of said finger hole block holders, and meansforlocking said thumb hole block in adjusted position.

ROBERT F. HINKLEY, SR.

